When you’re traveling alone, sometimes you just want to have a good barbecue, but the thing is it is hard to find barbecue restaurants that allow “eating alone”. Even if it’s allowed, you might feel a bit uncomfortable for some reason. If this is you, don’t worry about it. I just found a perfect place for solo travelers.
The name of this place is “Yakiniku Like“. Like I said earlier, this restaurant is a place where you can sit alone and enjoy yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) all by yourself.
Don’t Speak Japanese?
Don’t worry about it. You can simply use a tablet PC to place your order and even switch the language to English.
At the dining table, you’ll see a tiny grill designed for one person. And in the drawer, there are some chopsticks and wet tissues. If you look at the left wall, cups are ready for you, and right below the cups, you’ll find a water tap.
There are also a variety of sauces for your grilled meat and furikake to sprinkle on your rice.
Even if it’s a very small table, you can get everything you would need in this one seat. Super cool, right?
What To Order
I ordered “Like Quatro Set” and some salad. It includes beef ribs, skirt steak, thinly sliced short plate, and beef tongue and it comes with rice, soup, and kimchi.
At first glance, I thought it was a very small amount, but it was pretty enough for one person. You can also get free rice refills until 5 p.m., so even if you’re a big eater, I think that’s not going to be a problem.
If you look at the bottom of the table, you will see the switches to control the heat. Turn the heat on by pressing both A and B buttons simultaneously.
Alright, let’s start off with the beef tongue, one of the key components of Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ). You may not be familiar with “beef tongue” but trust me, this thinly sliced beef tongue in a flavorful soy sauce-based marinade will bring your BBQ experience to a whole new level.
In Japan, beef tongue is considered a premium cut, so some restaurants offer “pork tongue” to make it more affordable. However, even if it’s a little bit pricier, I highly recommend going with the beef tongue. The taste is truly remarkable and worth the extra cost.
One of the great things about Japanese BBQ place is that meats are pre-sliced, so you can just simply grill the meats and put them in your mouth. And what’s even better is that, since it’s solo dining, you can cook your meat to your liking. Cool, right?
Most Japanese BBQ restaurants, including this place, typically use gas grills, not charcoal grills, and they often lead to flare-ups compared to charcoal grills. So, please focus. If you lose your attention for just a moment, it will get the burnt flavor all over your beef. See? This can happen even to an experienced chef.
Yakiniku is a form of BBQ that was inspired by Korean BBQ, so many yakiniku restaurants serve this kimchi. Although it tasted slightly different from authentic Korean kimchi, it was quite tasty. Spicy, salty, and tangy, it really balanced out the richness of the fatty beef. You can’t compare it with salad. It works way better with your grilled meat, so be sure to try it together. You will absolutely love it.
Overall, it was a fun experience. We were happy with the food, and everyone was very friendly. I can’t say this place is the greatest yakiniku place of all time, but when you’re traveling alone, and you are looking for a place where you can casually enjoy Japanese BBQ at an affordable price, this place is definitely one of the best options for you.
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PRICE
- Like Quatro Set: USD 11.80
- Salad: USD 1.29
OPENING HOURS
- Opening Hours: 11:00-11:00
YAKINIKU LIKE
- It’s a chain restaurant, so you can search if there’s one nearby.
- 2 Chome-7-12 Tenjin, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka, 810-0001, Japan
